Phoenix needs to fly- Chapter 2

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Title: Phoenix needs to fly
Author:Ghost's Writer
Writter For: nightshadow_t2
Prompt: Story 1: Tony/Gibbs: Lets try role reversal. Tony is an experienced
shifter. Gibbs comes into his heritage late and is having trouble.
Tony helps. Them being mates is awesome. Bonus if they're different
types of shifter.(Panther, pumas, tigers, bobcats, horses, griffins,
wolves, lions, dragons, centaurs, foxes, coyote, eagle, hawk, etc.
Pick one)
Archive: Please at least wait until I'm finished and ask me first
Genre: Slash (m/m)
Pairings: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: PG (I'm really not good with ratings. If you think differently, say so)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of NCIS, anything else is mine. No money being made.
Word Count: Prologue:
Summary: Tony has to reveile a hard truth to Gibbs. Gibbs' decisions after that will have consequences so much bigger than Gibbs or Tony can foresee.
Author's Note: Once again a cute little bunny turned into a Gremlin. I realized early enough that I would never be able to finish the whole thing so this is Part One of a Series. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish this one yet, but I'm working on it. There's one more chapter to come. I neither had time to get a beta. I wanted you guys to know that I'm still in and it's a work in process. Hopefully I will have it finished and betaed before the three weeks end.

Links to: Prologue, Chapter 1, 3

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 3



Tony rubbed his eyes, as he watched Gibbs meditate. This would have been so much easier if he was younger. Gibbs was way too agitated to just jump right in the middle of it – as Gibbs had phrased it.

“Hey.” Tony jumped a little when McGee's voice came from right next to him.

“Hi.” Tony said, sighing.

“How's it going?” McGee asked, looking at Gibbs.

“Well, he's fifty-three and I try to teach him something I've been familiar with as long as I can remember. What do you think?” Tony answered sarcastic. “Did you find anything?”

“Mitchell's team is basically blocking me. Vance doesn't want us to start an investigation of our own, so they're told not to talk to us. Was a good thing, though, that Gibbs let the letters disappear. I think they'd ask uncomfortable questions if they knew there was a letter for the two of you.” McGee said, watching Gibbs.

“So, they're still in the dark, which for once, is a good thing. I can't believe they actually risk getting outed to the whole wide world just to have me train Gibbs.” Tony shook his head.

“Well, I don't know what exactly their plan is, but if it works, it wouldn't matter if the world knows, would it?” McGee mentioned.

“Yeah...”

“How much did you tell him?” He asked, finally looking at Tony directly.

“As much as he needs to know right now.” Tony replied.

“Tony...”

“I know, and I will tell him. Whenever he's ready. But he isn't right now.” Tony interrupted.

McGee sighed but nodded. “It's your decision. Are you going to take him to the council?”

“I talked to them an hour ago and they agreed with me that he should be trained first. After we have rescued Abby, he'll be introduced.” Tony replied. “He does seem calm now, doesn't he?”

McGee looked back at Gibbs and had to agree. The older man looked calmer and more relaxed than he had ever seen him. Tony moved into the living room and sat opposite Gibbs.

“You can come back to us now.” he said calmly. It took about a minute before Gibbs opened his eyes.

“That was...different.” he said, frowning.

“Getting in contact with your animal shape – or true form as we call it – gives you mental peace. Most people are unbalanced before they become complete. The longer that takes, the more unbalanced this person becomes.” Tony explained.

“That does explain a lot...” Gibbs muttered, then noticed McGee. “Did you get anything from Mitchell?”

“Sorry, boss, we're being blocked. However, he still has no idea about Triads or the Shadow Alliance, so that's good.” McGee replied.

Gibbs nodded. “Tony told me you're a shifter, too. When did you learn to change?”

McGee looked over at Tony, who nodded. “I learned soon after I joined your team. Abby told me first, Tony taught me the rest.”

Gibbs narrowed his eyes on Tony. “You taught McGee but not me?”

“As McGee said, Abby had broken the news to him. And it's a difference. McGee was a lot younger...um...I mean...you know, it gets harder...” Tony closed his eyes, expecting the head slap but it didn't come.

“I can understand that.” Gibbs nodded. “And without Abby being kidnapped by the Shadow Alliance, I wouldn't have listened to you anyway. However, Abby's a shifter, too, right? Why didn't she just change into a bat?”

“Well, as there are descendents of shifters, there are a few mages left. We always assumed there are mages on the Alliance's side. The Council of Triads is good enough to teach them everything they need to know and then they stab us in the back. Just because we know that there are things you can't explain with logic, doesn't mean that we're different from all the people you know.” Tony said, disapproving.

“When will we get to the changing?” Gibbs asked, impatient.

“We'll have to work on your concentration, Gibbs. It's most important that you can concentrate under stress, so you don't start changing involuntarily or you're stuck in your other shape. We cannot risk going to the Alliance unprepared.” Tony shook his head, looking extremely worried.

“Why would it be this important to them, that you train me? Why me?” Gibbs looked at Tony with an expression the younger man had never seen. Gibbs was actually looking for guidance.

“I don't really know.” Tony lied, breaking eye contact almost immediately.

Gibbs sighed. “We have to get moving, Tony. We cannot wait forever. I don't care what happens to me, but I can't leave Abby with those people!”

McGee looked shocked at Tony at that. Tony shook his head to keep McGee quiet.

“Ok, boss. We'll try this. But you have to be prepared that it won't work right away.” Tony sat onto the ground and mentioned Gibbs to do so. “First of all, I have to tell you that this is new to me. I mean, I can only change into one animal, so I'm working with theoretic knowledge here. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I could be for this.” Gibbs grumbled.

“Alright. First of all, choose an animal you want to change into. Something simple, something you're familiar with.” Tony instructed.

“Ok...um...I'll take a dog.” Gibbs said.

“What kind of dog?”

“I don't know, a German Shepherd.”

“Ok, first, you will have to meditate, like we did before. I will walk you through it this time. Once it worked, you will try it on your own and with practice it will take you just a second. So, as long as you don't have any other questions, we could give this a try.” Tony said, shifting a little to find a comfortable position.

“Go ahead.” Gibbs pressed and closed his eyes, trying to sit the way Tony told him before when he meditated.

“Fine. Concentrate on the sound of my voice. Any other noises are not important. Nothing matters but the calm that is spreading inside of you...” Tony went on, bringing Gibbs to a state of concentrated relaxation.

McGee stood by the door and watched, for the first time, how someone else is being guided through their first change. He remembered the first time Abby tried it with him, and it had been a disaster. He barely managed to relax, let alone to picture the animal in his head. Therefore they hadn't made any progress and didn't until Abby had asked Tony for help. Tony had been far more successful and after only three sessions McGee managed to change. Even then, McGee had known that Tony was not like just any other shifter and he would play a big part in this whole thing before the end. It wasn't before his own introduction that he learned, that they would all have their part.

A bark pulled McGee from his thoughts and he stared at the big German Shepherd, standing in Gibbs' living room. “What the hell...” he made a step into the room, finding Tony, staring at the dog as well.

“I can't believe it. He actually changed. It's the first time we try this and he actually changes!” Tony looked at McGee. “I gotta try something...” he said, a small grin appearing on his face. He knelt down to Gibbs. “Boss, if you hear me, bark once.” The dog gave a bark. “Perfect, now, I want you to try to change from this form to another form right away. You want to try this?” Gibbs barked again. “ok, sit down and relax again. Now, once you're calm, picture a black cat. Imagine the fur, the whiskers. Paint a crystal clear picture of it in your head. Feel the soul of the cat. Be the cat.”

The German Shepherd was gone and instead a black cat sat there, staring at Tony with clear blue eyes.

“This is freaking awesome.” McGee said, Tony just looked at Gibbs in a mixture of awe and worry.

“Yes, it is, if he can change back just as -” before Tony had finished the sentence Gibbs had rematerialized. “What the hell?”

“I figured you wanted me to change back. So, I did the same I did before, just the other way around.” Gibbs answered, shrugging one shoulder.

“How are you feeling?” McGee asked.

“Fine. It was a little creepy at first, but it did feel right, somehow.” Gibbs frowned a little. Then he looked at Tony. “Was that good for the first time?”

“Are you kidding me? You just learned to meditate today and you managed to change to a dog and then to a cat with guidance and back without. And you don't even feel too exhausted. This is highly unusual. No one I've ever taught was this quick to learn.” Tony said, still sounding worried.

“Why are you worried then?” Gibbs asked, hearing it out of Tony's voice.

“I – it's just...I don't want you to rush things. If we think you're ready and do something about the Alliance and then realize that we made the move too quick it'll be too late.” Tony said.

“But if we do nothing they might kill Abby!”

“They're not gonna kill Abby. They need her to blackmail me.” Tony replied annoyed.

“Why would they blackmail you?”

Tony opened his mouth but closed it again. “Listen, you stay here with McGee and keep training for a while. I need to go to the Council and talk to them about this whole thing. Don't forget to hydrate and eat. You might not notice it now but changing is draining, especially in the beginning.”

Tony didn't wait for McGee or Gibbs to say anything before he left the house.